Caster



Sept. 10, 1929. A. kAssLER ET AL CASTER Filed Feb. 8, 1928 A TI'ORNEK l N V E IV T035 $104072 ffassler Vic for h zlloa W Patented Sept. 10, 1929.

barren sralas PATENT OFFICE.

ADOLPH KASSLER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., AIED VIC'TQB WILLOUGHBY, 0F RIDGE- WOOD, NEVI JER$EY, ASSIGNORS TO AMERICAN CAR AND FOUNDRY COMPANY, OLE NEVT YORK, N. Y., A CGRPORATION OF NEW JERSEY,

oasrna Application filed February 8, 1928. Serial No. 252,788.

Reference is had to the accompanying drawings which illustrate the preferred form. of the invention; though it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact details of construction shown and describechas it is obvious that various modifications thereof within the scope of the claims will occur to persons skilled in the art.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the caster of the present invention, and

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the device, cer tain parts being broken away.

The invention relates to casters of the swivel type and one of the main objects of the invention is to facilitate swiveling by preventing binding and friction between contacting surfaces of the wheel bearing part and the attaching members.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a ball bearing caster formed of connected parts which may be easily and quickly assembled and disassembled.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an extremely strong and durable caster whichis inexpensive to manufacture and which consists of few parts.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description considered with the accompanying drawings in which the caster is shown as comprising' in the main an attaching plate indicated generally at 2, a retainer element indicated generally at l and a caster leg indicated at 6, the latter supporting the wheel 7.

The attaching plate 2 comprises a portion 8 by which the same may be secured, a depending annular flange 10 which is exteriorly threaded as at 2, and an integral inwardly extending web 14, the marginal edge of which is upwardly turned to form a circular flange 16 the inner surface 18 oi which is machined and defines a guideway.

A circular raceway 20 is provided in the 1 web 14: in which anti-friction bearingmembers, such as the balls 22, are adapted to work. The caster leg 6 is preferably of the type shown in the drawings and comprises spaced members 24 between the lower ends'of which the wheel 7 is mounted on an axle 26,. The

members 24 are each provided with a reinforcing rib 28 and the upper portions of said members are merged into a head 30 provided with an annular shoulder 32 having opposed raceways 34 formed therein the upper one of which the before-mentioned bearing members 22 are adapted to work. The balls 22 are mounted between the shoulder 32and the web 14, the same working in the raceways "termed in said web and shoulder, and the caster head as before-mentioned, and said leg is'rein-' forced by a rear connecting plate 38 which is formed integral with the casterhead, as clearly shown in Fig; 1, and said head is provided with an annular rib lO arranged ust beneath the shoulder 32 which defines a recess within which is arranged a suitable packing 42.

A retainer is provided, the same being designated generally as l, as v before-mentioned, and being secured to and adjustable on the depending flange 10 of the attaching plate. "This retainer includes an inwardly extending portion 44 which underlies the shoulder 32 and which supports the antitricticn bearing members 46, the latter be ing adapted to work in raceways formed in theunderlying portion of the retainer and in the lower face of the shoulder 32. For securing the retainer in its adjusted position on the flange 10, a set screw 18 is provided, as clearly shown in the drawings.

hen the device is assembled as shown in Fig. 1, it will be apparent that the caster leg is firmly though anti-trictionally mounted within the recess defined by the depending flangelO, and further, the anti-friction bear- 111g members 22will serve to support the caster leg and eliminate the friction of the load. It -'ill also be apparent that there- The outer surface of the shoulder is matainer 4 may be adjusted on the flange to tion bearings between the retainer and shoulregulate or adjust the assembled connected der, and a packing secured to the head adrelation of theattaching plate and the caster jacent the end, of the retainer.

leg, at the shoulder portion or" the latter.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set The machined portions of the circular our hands.

flange "l6 and the guide 36 provide for easy movement between the several parts of the caster, notwithstanding any possible loos-e arrangement of the anti-friction bearing members with respect to the raceways, and further, it will be apparent that should there be any tendency of the caster leg to tilt with respect to the attaching plate, the same will be counteracted by the engagement of said machined'surtaces. In use, the device is preferably packed with grease or other lubricantwhich is retained against leakage by the packing heretofore mentioned.

What is claimed is 1. A swivelcaster comprising an attaching plate, a depending annular flange formed therewith, an upwardly extending circumferential guide formed with the plate, a caster leg having its upper end arranged in said guide, a supporting shoulder the upper end of the leg arranged beneath the attaching plate, anti-friction bearings between said shoulder and plate, and a retainer adjustably secured to the flange and underlying the sup porting shoulder.

2. A swivel caster comprising an attaching plate having a depending annular flange and upwardly extending circumferential guide, a caster leg provided with an annula.

shoulder at its upperend arranged under the attaching plate and with an annular flange arranged in said guide, anti-fricti0n bearings supporting the caster leg, and a retainer underlying the annular shoulder and provided a with a circumferential attaching flange adjustably secured to the annular flange.

8. A swivel caster compr sing a plate havme a dependin ttttELClllZlO flange and an 1n- \J L U C V -wardlyextendin web defining a guide, a

caster leg, a head formed with said leg and including a supporting shoulder arranged under the web and an upstanding circular flange positioned in said guide, anti-friction ea ring members mounted on the shoulder for supporting the plate, a retainer adjustably secured to the depending flan e and underlying the shoulder, and anti-rrictionv bearings between the retainer and said shoulder.

4. A swivel caster comprising an attaching plate having a depending annular flange and a central circumferential guideway, a caster le a head formed on said caster lei and coine a o prising an annular shoulder arranged under the attaching plate and a circumferential flange positioned in said guideway, anti-friction bearing members between said plate and shoulder, a retainer adjustably secured to the flange and underlying the shoulder, anti-fric- ADOLPH KASSLER. VICTOR l VILLOUGHBY. 

